In cancer progression, proteolytic enzymes like serine proteases and metalloproteinases degrade the basement membrane enabling the tumor cells to invade the adjacent tissues. Thus, invasion and metastasis are augmented by these enzymes. Simultaneous silencing of uPA and MMP9 in breast cancer cells decreased the wound healing, migratory, invasive and adhesive capacity of the cells. After simultaneous down regulation, cells were seen to be arrested in the cell cycle. There was a remarkable increase in the expression of cell to cell adhesion molecule E–cadherin, and decrease in Vimentin and Snail expression. In addition, there was a significant decrease in the expression of the stem cell marker Oct-4. In the breast tumor samples it has been observed that, tumors, expressing higher level of uPA and MMP9, express less amount of E–cadherin. It has also been observed that few tumors also show, Vimentin positive in the ductal epithelial area. Thus, our model can help for checking the aggressive tumor invasion by blocking of uPA and MMP9. Our present observations also give the concept of the presence of aggressive epithelial cells with mesenchymal nature in the tumor micro-environment, altering the expression of EMT genes.

Context:The birth of transfusion-dependent states of hemoglobinopathies including thalassemias is preventable by population screening and genetic counseling. Magnitude is not addressed in the Northern Region of West Bengal where many ethnic variants inhabit.Aims and Objectives:The aim of the following study is to find out the burden of different entities of hemoglobinopathies, their correlation with ethnicity and the “at risk” groups.Subjects and Methods:A descriptive study was conducted from the Hematology Unit of North Bengal Medical College over 1 year on the subjects underwent screening for hemoglobinopathies for detection of abnormal hemoglobin (Hb) variants by “cation-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography” principle along with other relevant tests.Statistical Analysis:Data was analyzed by frequency distribution and Chi-square test assuming P value as 95% of the level of significance using the SPSS version 16 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A).Result:Abnormal Hb variant was 47.5% among 1872. Hb E trait (34.4%) was most common followed by Hb E disease (25.3%) and others. Hb E disorders (92.7%) were observed mostly among Rajbangsi population while E-β-thalassemias (40%) in the Muslims and a heterogeneous pattern noted among tribal and mongoloid.Conclusion:Hb E hemoglobinopathies was high among Rajbangsi and Muslims with identification of some other hemoglobinopathies involving tribal and mongoloid.

Balantidium coli (B. coli) is the only trophic ciliate of low virulence causing dysentery in human. However, may be due to their active motility and invasive nature, they have been rarely described to cause infection in extraintestinal sites also. We herein describe a case where trophozoites of B. coli were detected in urinary sediment examination of an elderly female presenting with mild fever, dysuria and hematuria for last 1 week. The parasites were identified by their characteristic morphology and rapid spiraling motility. This is only the third case described in literature to detect B. coli in urine sediment.

Objective: Ultrasonography (USG)-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of ovarian masses is an efficient diagnostic modality for accurately diagnosing ovarian tumours prior to surgery. The main aim of this study was to assess the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of FNAC in diagnosing ovarian masses. Material and Methods:Eighty-three patients with ovarian masses were recruited and correlation of USG-guided FNAC was made with histopathology in all but 6 cases, where surgery was not indicated. Results:Cytological diagnosis was obtained in all 83 ovarian lesions: 56 cases were benign, 6 possibly benign, 3 suspicious of malignancy and 18 cases as malignant. Out of 77 cases where histology was available, the 12 non-neoplastic cysts were endometriotic cysts and follicular cysts. The majority of neoplastic lesions were surface epithelial tumours. Out of 12 non-neoplastic cysts and 43 benign tumours, all but two were diagnosed as benign or possibly benign on cytology; of the 22 histologically malignant or borderline tumours, 18 were malignant or suspicious of malignancy on cytology, while four were false negative (three of these were borderline tumours). Thus, the sensitivity of cytological diagnosis was 83%, specificity was 97% and accuracy was 93%.Conclusion: USG-guided FNAC seems to be a relatively safe, simple, fast and cost-effective procedure where most ovarian malignancies either present late in their course or no screening method is available. In addition, cyto-radiological correlation through this procedure may be useful in deciding management guidelines prior to any surgical intervention. (J Turk Ger Gynecol Assoc 2014; 15: 6-12) Key words: Ultrasound, fine-needle aspiration cytology, ovarian mass, image-guided, cytology Received: 31 October, 2013 Accepted: 19 December, 2013 USG guided FNAC of ovarian mass lesions: A cyto-histopathological correlation, with emphasis on its role in pre-operative management guidelines

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